International Women’s Day

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If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.

If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.

1. Listening for main ideas 

First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?

2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:

  1. What does International Women’s Day celebrate?
  2. What do this year’s two themes call for?
  3. Why does the speaker mention the year 2158?
  4. What does the colour purple signify?
  5. What does the speaker say about female councillors in Auckland?
  6. What is the gender pay gap?
  7. The gender pay gap in New Zealand has halved since 1998.       True / False
  8. Which groups experience a higher-than-average gender pay gap?
  9. What factors contribute to the gender pay gap?
  10. If women were paid more, what benefits would there be?

Text

Saturday 8 March was International Women’s Day. Every year this day is marked around the world to celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. It also focuses people’s attention on discrimination that women still face. This year the themes are “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” and “Accelerate Action”. They call for action that can unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for all. According to the World Economic Forum, if progress continues at the current rate, it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender equality. It is therefore important to speed up improvements.

There were many meetings and talks around New Zealand last week to celebrate this day. Also, on Saturday night the Sky Tower in Auckland was lit with purple lights, because purple is recognised internationally as the colour of women and gender equality. Many organisations make announcements for International Women’s Day. For example, the female councillors in Auckland are pushing for increased female representation when there are local elections later this year. Women hold only 37 percent of elected positions in Auckland. The councillors argue that it is important for women to have a voice on the Auckland City Council so that women’s needs are met.

One important issue for women is the gender pay gap. The Equal Pay Act of 1972 prohibits discrimination in pay on the basis of sex, but there are still differences in women’s pay compared with men’s. In 1998 the gender pay gap in New Zealand was 16.3 percent, and in 2024 it was 8.2 percent. While this is some progress, there still needs to be more, particularly because the gender pay gaps for Māori, Pacific and Asian women and for disabled women are substantially higher. The Minister for Women Nicola Grigg has been holding meetings around the country to speak to businesses about what action can be taken to close the gender pay gap. Last year the government released a gender pay gap toolkit to help businesses and organisations measure the difference in women’s and men’s pay and to develop a plan to close the gap.

According to Employment New Zealand, there are many factors which contribute to the gender pay gap. Firstly, women often work in jobs which are lower paid and tend to be at the bottom or middle of an organisation. Secondly, female-dominated occupations may not be recognised or valued appropriately in comparison to other jobs. In addition, women often work part-time when they have a family, but part-time jobs are often only available in lower paid occupations and positions. Finally, research commissioned by the Ministry for Women suggests that the most significant factor is probably conscious or unconscious bias.

If women were paid more, it would benefit them and society in many ways. Women would have greater economic independence, have less debt, and could save more for their retirement. It would also benefit employers because employees who are valued stay in their jobs for longer and are more productive. Both of these benefits would be good for the country’s economy and productivity.

Vocabulary

celebrate – to show that something is special

discrimination – the practice of treating someone or a particular group in society less fairly than others

empowerment – the act of giving someone more control over their own life or situation

accelerate – to happen faster, or to make something happen faster

gender – the fact of being male or female

announcement – an important or official statement

prohibit – to ban, not allow

release – in this context, release means to make something available to the public

commissioned by – requested by. To commission means to formally ask someone to write an official report (or in other contexts, to produce a painting or a piece of music)

bias – a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people, often not based on fair judgement

Answers

1. What does International Women’s Day celebrate?

        Women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements

        2. What do this year’s two themes call for?

        They call for action that can lead to equal rights, power, and opportunities for all.

        3. Why does the speaker mention the year 2158?

        If progress continues at the current rate, it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender equality. It is important to speed up improvements.

        4. What does the colour purple signify?

        The colour of women and gender equality

        5. What does the speaker say about female councillors in Auckland?

        • They are pushing for increased female representation in the local elections later this year.
        • Women hold only 37 percent of elected positions in Auckland.
        • The councillors argue that it is important for women to have a voice on the Auckland City Council so that women’s needs are met.

        6. What is the gender pay gap?

        Differences in women’s pay compared with men’s

        7. The gender pay gap in New Zealand has halved since 1998.       True / False

        8. Which groups experience a higher-than-average gender pay gap?

        Māori, Pacific and Asian women, and disabled women

        9. What factors contribute to the gender pay gap?

        • Women often work in jobs which are lower paid and tend to be at the bottom or middle of an organisation.
        • Female-dominated jobs may not be recognised or valued as much as other jobs.
        • Women often work part-time when they have a family, but part-time jobs are often only available in lower paid occupations and positions.
        • Conscious or unconscious bias.

        10. If women were paid more, what benefits would there be?

        • Women would have greater economic independence, have less debt, and could save more for their retirement.
        • It would also benefit employers because employees who are valued stay in their jobs for longer and are more productive.
        • Both of these benefits would be good for the country’s economy and productivity.